chef hatSummer is over, and that’s OK with me. Our summer never really got going here in Seattle anyway, and there are plenty of things to love about fall: cardigans and knee-high boots, pumpkin spice lattes and freshly baked bread. Even the shorter days aren’t so bad — I prefer to think of it as longer evenings for cozy couch reading.

Right now, I’m reading the magical, darkly gothic smash YA hit Shadow and Bone (check out a free Kindle preview of chapters 1-5) and simmering a batch of red onion jam in my trusty Dutch oven. There’s nothing like the rich, savory smell of a bunch of caramelizing onions to set a homey mood! And it makes a surprisingly appropriate match for the Russian-esque medieval fantasy world of the novel, where powerful court magicians control the weather, heal flesh, and summon light and darkness against a bitterly snowy winter backdrop.

What are your favorite fall rituals? Are there certain recipes you associate with favorite books? Tell us in the comments!

Stephanie Perry
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